Writing Travel

Mid-America road trips for wimps, part 2

First of all, dear reader, I want you to know I am home again safely after spending more than two weeks with my extended family in southern Illinois.

I had intended to stay a week or less, just long enough to recover from the solo drive south and make the rounds to see as many cousins as possible.

And yes, I intended to blog from the road, but I'm a wimp. Besides that, real life happened.

Impressions of Kinshasa

Cedric_Kalonji_in_Kinshasa_CHILD_LABOR, originally uploaded by bukavuonline.

Guest post by Sandra Basgall, Catholic Relief Services Central Africa

Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a bustling city of 8 to 10 million on the Congo River. Across the river lies the capital of the Republic of Congo, Brazzaville. This is the only place in the world where two capitals lie side by side.

From certain locations, you can see Brazzaville, just as large and busy as Kinshasa. There are no bridges connecting the two cities. Many people cross by speed boat and others on the overcrowded ferries. You need a visa to visit there.

Many of the boulevards in Kinshasa are very wide, but traffic is heavy, and during rush hour, the buses and taxis race each other to get the next passenger. These yellow and blue vehicles defy description. Some of them look like vans or old delivery trucks with windows cut out of the sides. People hold the doors closed by just hanging on to them. They are full, full, full of people and remind me of the old ‘70s game of seeing how many people can fit into a Volkswagen!

Many look like they can barely move, but my colleagues tell me that just a month ago, the worst of them were taken off the road. I can barely imagine what they looked like as this bunch is so rag-a-tagged. We have been told not to use buses or taxis as they are not safe mechanically and you might get robbed. I have no desire to ride in one.

Green bus in Kinshasa.Originally uploaded on Flickr by FredR/Creative Commons

United takes back upgrade from exec in track suit

Definitely bad business for United, possibly even worse than their recent lost-luggage double whammy on the musician whose "United Breaks Guitars" video went viral.

Travel blog Gadling reports that United revoked the first-class upgrade of a passenger traveling in a track suit. Oops! That passenger was an articulate, otherwise very well-groomed Best Buy vice president and frequent flyer. Watch the video for yourself.

Will Thomas of Fox News DC has since reported that United has responded and is investigating the allegations.

For your viewing pleasure, HipCompass Escapes Fall 2009

I must repeat myself: I'm thrilled to be a contributor to HipCompass Escapes. The Fall 2009 issue, our third, is the best ever, in my opinion, thanks to the far-reaching talents of the production staff and of my fellow contributors.

The far-ranging explorations included in the new issue cover every turn of the globe, from North Africa to the Straits of Taiwan, from Laos to Tahiti, from Maine to Hawaii, from Spain to Argentina to Mexico.

Please take a look and enjoy the depth and breadth of the offerings.

Wednesday Window ~ Interurban Railway Station Museum, Plano, Texas